Combined key-ring and tool



No. 751,965. 1 PATE NTED FEB. 9, 1904.

G. P. WING.

COMBINED KEY RING AND TOOL.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

llllllll I-mnn ullllllll attozvzeya m: Moms Path: on, mow-hum. WAS-mm. a. c.

UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 1904.

crIAnLEs P. WING, 0E crIicAeo, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED KEY-RING AND TOOL.

V SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,965 dated February 9, 1904.

Application filed September 26,1903. derial No. 174,775. (No model.)

ence being had to the accompanying drawings. which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates in general to key-rings,

and more particularly to a combination keyring land tool handle.

ordinary screw-driver composed of a handle and blade rigidly fixed thereto is of 'such a length as to prevent its being conveniently carried in the pocket.

The primar; object of my invention is therefore to provide a screw-driver or similar tool, the handle of which may be rigidly secured to the blade when the tool is to be used or may be readily detached from the blade when it is desired to carry the tool in the pocket.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combination key-ring and tool handle adapted to be rigidly secured to theblade of a tool to serve as-a handle therefor or to be detached from operative engagement with the blade and loosely passed through an opening therein preparatory to placing the tool in the pocket of the user.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a combination key-ring and screwdriver which will be simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and convenient in use.

My invention, generally described, consists in an open-spring ring having its ends overlapped, one end having an elongated slot therein extending at one end beneath the opposite end of the ring, a blade the upper end of which is adapted to extend through said slot, said blade having notches on its opposite edges, one of which engages one end of said slot and the other of which receives the opposite end of the ring.

My invention will be more fully described I ing drawings, in which the same is illustrated in a convenient and practical form, and in which Figure 1- is a perspective view of the keyring detached from the blade and loosely passing through an opening therein; Fig. 2, an elevational view, partiallyin sect-ion, showing the key-ring in position to serve as a handle view on line 3 3, Fig. 2, part ofthe blade being shown in elevation.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A indicates an open-spring ring, the ends of which partially overlap each other. The ring may be composed of any suitable resilient material.

ring near the overlapping end thereof. On either side of the slot A are flanges a which may be convenientlymade by bending down- -wardly portions of the metal of which the ring is formed. The opposite end of the springring is provided with an open notch a.

V B indicates the blade of a to0lsuch, for instance, as a screw-driverwhich is provided with an opening 5 at its upper end. At either side of the blade B, near the upper end thereof, are formed notches Z) and 6 A shoulder 6 is formed below the notch b. The width of the blade above the notches b and b is as to permit the upper end of the blade to be passed through the slot A The operation and manner of using my invention are as follows: When the key-ring A is to serve as the handle of a tool, the upper end of the blade B is inserted through the slot A at one end of the ring, so that the notch b therein receives the metal at the end a of the notch A while the shoulder 6 engages the under surface of the end of the ring beyond the opposite end of the slot A as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The not ch 6 receives the opposite end of the ring, the bifurcations at such end of the ring extending on either side of the blade adjacent to such notch. The resiliency of the ring causes the upper end of the blade to be tightly gripped between its for the screw-driver; and Fig. 3, a sectional An elongated slot A is provided through the l slightly less than the length of the slot A so opposite edges and securely held in position for use. The flanges a extend along the opposite faces of the blade and prevent lateral movement thereof when in use.

When the tool is no longer in use and it is desired to place the same in the pocket, the ends of the ring are sprung apart sufliciently to disengage the end a of the ring from the notch b in the blade and permit the blade to be moved toward the right in Fig. 2, thereby disengaging the notch 32 from the edge a of the ring and permitting the upper end of the blade to pass through the slot A so as to entirely disconnect the blade from the ring. The ring may then be passed through the eye I) of the blade in a manner similar to passing a key-ring through the keys which are to be retained thereby.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved key-ring which is adapted to be rigidly secured to a tool-blade, so as to serve as a handle therefor and which is also adapted to be readily disengaged from the blade and to pass loosely through an opening in the blade when it is desired to carry the tool in the pocket.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish', to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a combined key-ring and tool, the combination with a tool, of a key-ring, and means for rigidly detachably connecting the ring to the tool to serve as a handle therefor, said tool having a hole through which the ring when detached from the tool may be passed.

2. The combination with an open-spring ring having a radial slot therethrough near one end thereof, of a tool the upper end of which is adapted to extend through said slot and be retained therein through engagement with the opposite end of said ring.

3. In a combined key-ring and tool, the combination with an open-spring ring having overlapping ends, said ring having a radial slot therethrough near one end thereof, of a tool the upper end of which is adapted to extend through said slot and to be engaged by the opposite end of said ring, said tool having a hole through which the ring when detached from the tool is adapted to be passed.

4:. In a combined-key-ring and screw-driver, the combination with an open-spring ring having a radial slot therethrough near one end thereof, of a screw-driver blade of a width at its upper end to pass through said slot, said blade having a notch in one edge to receive the edge of the ring at one end of said slot and a shoulder at its opposite end .to engage the exterior of the ring adjacent to the opposite end of the slot, said blade also having a notch above said shoulder to receive the opposite end of the ring.

5. In a combined key-ring and screw-driver, the combination with an open-spring ring having a radial slot therethrough near one end thereof, flanges on the exterior of the ring on either side of said slot, a screw-driver blade the upper end of which is adapted to pass between said flanges and through said slot, said blade having a notch in one edge to receive the edge of the ring at one end of the slot and a second notch in its opposite edge to receive the opposite end of the ring.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. WING. Witnesses:

GEo. L. WILKINSON, I C. C. CUNNINGHAM. 

